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Duke  University   Libraries 

Circular. 
Conl  Pam  q#8 


ieafo-vfmtrtcrs  0f  %  3Unm  of 

MOBILE,  Dec.  11th,  18(52 


CIRCULAR.] 

I.  An  officer  intrusted  with  the  command  of  u  Regiment  is  invested  with  authority,  which  renders  him  responsible,  for  the  maintenance 
of  discipline,  order,  and  u  proper  system  of  economy  in  hie  corps:  he  i-  to  exact  from  officers  and  men  the  most  implicit  obedience  to  regola 
finn-,  and  he  is  not  only  to  enforce  by  command,  hot  to  encourage  by  example,  the  energetic  discharge  of  dutv.  and  the  steady  endurance  «  i 
the  difficulties  mid   privations  which  are  inseparable  from  Military  service. 

II.  A  commanding  officer's  authority  i-*  paramount,  whether  on  the  parade,  nr  the  mess,  or  in  any  other  situation  ;  he  should  give  hi-i 
heat  attention  to  promote  a  good  understanding  amongst  the  officers,  by  advice  to  the  young  and  inexperienced,  by  timelv  interference  t  ■ 
prevent  dispute*,  and  by  taking  immediate  notice  of  any  conduct  likely  to  interrupt  the  harmony  of  the  corps;  he  should  explain  to  the 
officers,  in  the  most  forcible  manner,  the  consequences  ol  allow  ing  themselves  to  be  misled  bv  erroneous  notions,  and  false  principles  of  honor 
and  he  should  encourage  them  in  th*  event  of  any  dispute  or  difference  arising,  to  make  htm  the  arbiter,  as  the  one  immediately  responsible 
for  maintaining  unblemished  the  honor  and  character  of  the    corps;    and    his  decision  should  he   assented  to    :,nd  hlfl    disputal  of  the    rraestion 

considered  as  final. 

III.  He  is  to  discountenance  any  disposition  ol  hi>  officers  to  play  with  each  other  at  any  game  for  high  stakes  :  he  is  to  use  bu  utmos 
endeavor  to  rheck  any  approach  among  the  younger  officers  to  what  are  termed  practical  jokes. 

IV*.       He  i«  to  take  frequent   opportunities  of  examining  the  officers  upon  every  point  connected  with  their  duties   in  the  field,  as  hi  thei 

knowledge  of  the  "  Kegutntions  and  Orders  of  the  Army  and  Articles  of  War," — of  the  forms,  principles  and  practice  of  Courts  Martjul ni 

the  interior  management  of  a  Company ,  und  of  the  established  system  of  keeping  its  accounts* 

V.      He  i«  to  avail  himself  of  every  opportunity  of  practically  instructing  the   officers  in  the  duties  of  light  Infantry,  and  of  pfcquotS  and 

outposts,  &c,  in  llie  mode  of  conducting  patrols,  in  the  exercise  and  management  of  field  artillery,  and  as  far  as  may  he  practicable,  in  the  con 

structSoti  ol  field  works,  Scv  He  will,  hi  his  discretion,  direct  the  field  officers  and  Captains  of  the  Begimeiit,  and  occaainnalh  ovoij  tin  sub- 
alterns, hi  take  command  of  the  parade,  and  in  his  presence  to  exercise  the  Regiment  or  Battalion  ;  and  he  is  to  encourage  the  nn  ha  I  ten 
officers  to  qualify  themselves  for  tin-  duties  of   Adjutant,  both  in    the    field  and  in  the  office. 

VI  Officers  commanding  Brigades,  and  reviewing  Generals,  are  to  make  the  mom  strict  Inquiries  and  careful  observations  in  all  these 
point*  ;  and  if  the)  discover  that  any  officers  tre,  from  incapacity  or  habitual  inattention,  deficient  in  u  knowledge  of  their  duties,  or  indis- 
posed to  give  the  eommanding  officer  the  aid  and  support  which  he  has  u  right  to  expect,  or  are  otherwise  conducting  themselves  in  u  manne. 
injurious  to  tin    efficiency  and  the  credit  of  tin   corps,  they  are  to  report  the  names  of  such  officers 

Vli.     The  instruction  and  improvement  of  his  men  form  the  most  essential  pari  ui  the  supervision  of  acommunstfug  officet  ;   tie-  genefttJ 

regulations  and  orders  prescribe  the  adoption  and  the  practice  of  an   uniform  system  of  exercise  and  drill, — and  it  is  of  the  highest   im  porta  net 
that  tiii-  principle  of  uniformity  should   be  strictly  observed   and  maintained,  in  its  most  minute  detail*. 

VIM  A  commanding  officei  cannot  pay  too  much  attention  to  the  prevention  of  crime,  but  lie  must  hear  in  mind  that  the  positive  Mbsmnct 
0|  eiinie,  and  nol  its  Screened  existence,  is  the  criterion  ol  a  noil-established  discipline.  In  all  first  offences,  not  of  an  aggravated  character, 
mild  reproof  and  admonition  will  be  tried;  and  punishment  i«  not  to  be  resorted  to.  until  ii  repetition  of  the  offjnee  shall  have  shown  that 
the  milder  treatment  ha-  not  been  productive  of  the   desired   enV.t. 

IV  <  ifficer.-  an*  to  avoid  reproving  not. -com  missioned  officers  for  any  irregularity,  aeglecQ  of  duty,  or  aw  kwurdness,  &c,,  in  the  iinviin- 
or  bearing  ol  the  privates,  lest  they  should  weaken  their  authority  and  lessen  their  respectability, — unless  it  shall  l»  neeessan  for  tie  benclll 
of  example  that  the  reproof  be  public,  or  it  shall  have  been  provoked  by  repeated  neglect  or  Irregularity. 

V  The  utmost  attention  i-  required  from  the  Captains  or  officers  commanding  Companies,  to  the  cleanliness  of  the  men  as  to  their 
i<<  mens,  clothing,  arms,  and  accoutrements,  ami  also  as  to  the  state  of  their  barracks  or  quarters.  Strict  adherence  to  this  etaential  point  of 
discipline  will  ever  lend  hi  the  health  and  com  fori  of  the   soldier,  and  at  the  snme  time  promote  the  credit  of  the  service. 

\1.     Thi  duty  attending  the  Colors  hi  the  field  is  to  be  performed  by  the  Color-Sergeants ;  but  this  distinction  is  in  no  wise  to  interfere 

sSli   the    regular  performance    of  their    Regimental  und    Cornpan\   duties        The}    are   nol   I"     be  detached    from    their  Companies  nor  to  be  etn- 

ploj ed  on  other  service* 

\ll.     Commanding  officers  will  not  permit  the  officers  and  men  of  their  command  to  become  domesticated  in  the  neighborhood  in  which 

\  be  ipiurtered.  "  Nothing  i-  more  liable  than  this  to  injure  the  morale  of  the  best  troops.  The  seductions  of  otherwise  harmless 
plea  sun  -.  moj  l<  ad  le  fetal  habits  of  remissness  in  duty,  and  the  officer  i|ulotly  indulging  in  a  game  of  cards  may  receive  his  summons  for 
*urr»  nder  ■«  h»    take,  up  hi*  lasl  trick.*' 

H\  command  of 

Brig.  Gen'l  J   E.  SLAUGHTER, 

L.  G.  ALDRICH,  Captain  and  A.  A.  General. 


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petmulife* 

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